The Ivy League centerpiece only accepts the best. Future graduates will become leaders in their chosen fields.

Individuals like Olympian High School’s Asante’ Gibson.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound two-way threat has the resume to carry him to big-time college football. He was twice an All-Mesa League first-team selection, a first-team All-San Diego Section pick and named fourth-team All-State. In his senior year he recorded 135 tackles, forced four fumbles, had three interceptions and rushed for 453 yards in just 71 carries, leading the Eagles to the section finals at Qualcomm Stadium.

Asante’ Gibson, an Olympian High School grad, will play for the South team in the Alex Spanos All-Star Classic at Mesa College on Friday.Kevin J. Farmer

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Asante’ Gibson, an Olympian High School grad, will play for the South team in the Alex Spanos All-Star Classic at Mesa College on Friday.

Recruiting guru Tom Lemming said of Gibson, “I saw him play RB, WR, OLB, SS, FS, and CB. He also did a great job of returning punts. (Gibson) shows a pure passion for the game, smarts and an aggressive style of play. Very physical, he shows good awareness and timing.”

While obviously carrying big-time college talent, Gibson understands the value of a Harvard degree.

“I can play football anywhere, but to do that along with getting a Harvard degree, that can’t be matched,” said Gibson. “But football has really opened more doors for me.”

What a door it opened — a scholarship worth around $55,000 per year and at a place where college football is still based more on tradition than the BCS or the dollars earned.

Olympian football coach Gil Warren, who had seen many great athletes in his 28 years as a head coach in the South Bay, rates Gibson one of the best he’s had.

“The Harvard defensive coordinator (Scott Larkee) came by asking if we had anyone they would be interested in and I immediately thought of him,” Warren said. “It happened to be a Friday and on game days we always wear a full shirt and tie. Asante’ came in and he was so impressed just how he looked. Then after meeting with him for about 20 minutes the coach came out and said ‘We want him.’ ”

Gibson knows what he wants as well.

“Regardless of whether I make it to the league (NFL) or not, I’m going to get back to medical school,” he insisted.

“I’ll be a surgeon of some kind.”

The desire to be a surgeon dates back to before his family moved to the San Diego area from Dallas in the seventh grade.

“It all goes back to a project I had back in elementary school,” he explained. “My project was on heart surgery. It was just one of those things, I’ve been hooked on it ever since.”

While most would be concerned with what is ahead for Gibson when he leaves for Cambridge, Mass., on Aug. 17, the son of a 20-year U.S. Navy mother (Adriana) and retired U.S. Army father (Stanley), is poised for the challenge.

“I’m not worried at all,” he said. “I can handle things. Here (at Olympian) I’ve had football, track, the academics and worked as many as two jobs at a time.”

Gibson will play for the South team in the Alex Spanos All-Star Classic at Mesa College Friday night. Making it even more special is that Warren is the team’s head coach.

“For me personally, (Coach Warren) makes playing a whole lot easier,” said a grateful Gibson. “When you have coaches that have accomplished as much as they had, you know they know what they’re doing and you don’t doubt anything they say.”